The New York Transit Museum Delivers High Times on a Low Budget

Brooklyn boasts of many things in terms of amenities and attractions, with cultural standpoints like BAM, Mark Morris dance company, Prospect Park, and the Brooklyn Museum.  And then there’s one of the most interesting museums we’ve ever hit up in all of the five boroughs — the New York Transit Museum – inside of the now-defunct train station at Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street in downtown Brooklyn.

The Transit Museum is a whole lotta awesome.  For less than the price of two slices a ‘pie ($5), you can read about NYC’s transit history, dig through old photos of subway construction, browse old station machinery,  hop through old turnstiles — and best yest — play on old train cars.  And we’re not just talking models from the 70’s and 80’s.  They have the old Coney Island Express trains that ran on the elevated platforms dating back to 1902, and they’re in amazing shape.  It was frankly one of the few happy times I’ve spent in MTA company.

You can wait for a walking tour (free of charge), and we highly recommend it.  Our tour guide was enthusiastic, engaging, and had lots of really interesting stories to share.  He was also passionate about the trains and how they ran, telling us how he was working up to being a train conductor after wanting to drive them since he was a boy.  Consequently, he was a wealth of knowledge regarding the history of the different train models, the mechanics of how the system maps worked, and telling cool stories about the legendary Sandhogs.

On top of having all of that to play with, you can also check out old bus models and take photos of yourself looking surly and annoyed (See photo set).  There’s also a small theater where you can watch videos of how the underground construction and drilling happens, as well as areas for kids to do crafts while learning about the MTA and NYC’s long and sordid history.

The Transit Museum’s store is ok — but it’s certainly no MoMa or Tenement Museum store, and they could be a little more inventive with their offerings.  Although I do think a “Beverley Road” Q train sign would look sort of bad ass over my entrance doorway, and it’s surely safer than trying to swipe one out of the train station.

Get Your Mind Blown at Secret Science Club’s Bell House Event

If you haven’t caught on, the ladies here at LifeStyler have a lot of love for all the nerds out there. We get sent a lot of cool events, but we only choose the one we believe our readers will enjoy, so something titled “Secret Science Club” was just too good to pass up.

The Secret Science Club presents “A Mind-blowing Evening” on March 9 at the Bell House for all of you fellow nerds and nerd lovers out there. The free event features neuroscientists Joseph LeDoux and Daniela Schiller who will discuss fear, memory, and the brain.

After the neuroscientists boggle your mind with their thoughts on the evolution of fear and how we hold our memories, they’ll officially blow your mind with a jam session with their band, the Amygdaloids. Known as “brain scientists who rock it,” LeDoux and Schiller will perform original songs with their band after the lecture series before kicking off a Q&A session with any rocker nerds who stick around.

Doors open to the Secret Science club at 7:30 p.m. this Tuesday, March 9 at the Bell House in Gowanus, Brooklyn. No charge necessary, but be forewarned that you brain will not be the same.

Photo credit:  juliaf

Cab Sharing Picks up Speed with Budget Savvy New Yorkers

Public transportation is the best way to save cash, but any New Yorker knows that when you’re in a rush or stepping out of the bar late at night, a cab ride is much more appealing. 

Now you don’t have to feel guilty about your taxi rides with new group ride rates, which cut the costs of taxi fare. NYC taxis will let you share your ride with a few strangers at a discounted group rate. New Yorkers can find these cheap cabs during the morning rush hours (between 6am and 10am), and the taxis will have designated start and drop-off locations like a bus route.

1010Wins has the lowdown on the three designated routes, which are:

- W. 57th St. and Eighth Ave. with dropoffs allowed on Park Ave. between 57th St. until 42nd St.
- W.72nd St. and Columbus Ave. with dropoffs on Park Ave. from 72nd St. to 42nd St.
- E. 72nd St. and Third Ave. with dropoffs on Park Avenue from 72nd St. to 42nd St.

So slide on over, New Yorkers, and get cozy with your neighbors with the new ‘group rate’ taxis. Not only will you save some cash, but you might even make a friend or two.

Take Advantage of Steep Discounts at Housing Works’ Spring Previews

February was a rough month for the Northeast, but the light at the end of the tunnel is that the month of March is already feeling a bit like spring. So store away your sweaters, snow boots and maybe even that Snuggie, and stop by the Housing Works’ annual Spring Preview sales.

Housing Works is helping NYC gear up for warm weather by previewing their hot spring merchandise at each of their locations. Stop by one of their 10 thrift shop locations to get in on the spring preview sale fun with items up to 70 percent off. Any profits go to Housing Works’ services for homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS, such as housing, meals and medical care.

Visit a Housing Works thrift shop from now until March 20 and Housing Works members can get into the sale free of charge, while non-members need $10 to enter. Can’t make it out? Check out Shophousingworks.com for a virtual Spring Preview.

Yorkville, 1730 2nd Ave.
Saturday, February 27, 10am to 6pm

Upper East, 202 East 77th St.
Tuesday, March 2, 5pm to 8pm

Chelsea, 143 West 17th St.
Thursday, March 4, 5pm to 8pm

West Village, 245 West 10th St.
Saturday, March 7, 11am to 7pm

Tribeca, 119 Chambers St.
Tuesday, March 9, 5pm to 8pm

Shophousingworks.com Online Preview
Monday, March 10, noon

Columbus, 306 Columbus Ave.
Thursday, March 11, 5pm to 8pm

Brooklyn, 122 Montague St.
Saturday, March 13, 11am to 7pm

Hell’s Kitchen, 730-732 9th ave.
Mid March (more details coming soon)

Gramercy, Thursday, 157 East 23rd St.
Thursday, March 18, 5pm to 8pm

Soho, 130 Crosby St.
Saturday, March 20, 11am to 7pm

Decorating on a Dime: 1 HR. W/ BILL Helps Design Divas on a Budget

Decorating an apartment in NYC can be a money-sucking black hole when you factor in not only the cost of the furniture, but the cost of transporting it and having it delivered to your sixth-floor walkup — only to discover that it doesn’t quite match the paint job and juts a quarter of an inch out into the walkway.

Bill Green, owner and principal of renowned architecture firm William Green & Associates, is offering a cool new service called 1 HR. W/ BILL that’s ideal for New Yorkers who crave expert design elements but who don’t have the budget of a Vanderbilt heiress. In the words of Bill, it’s for someone who’s “lost in the generic furniture forest … the people who just go from the Pottery Barns to the Bo Concepts to the Crate & Barrel, open up a magazine and scratch their heads and go, ‘What do we do?’”

Give me a rundown of what 1 HR. W/ BILL is.

This is a service that we’re just starting that gives the consumer a choice between basic do-it-yourself design and hiring a high-end designer to design an entire space. Typically what we have to do now when we want design advice is [either] look at magazines, articles or photographs, or read a book of design, and [for more specific feedback] go to a store and ask a salesperson for some advice. Or conversely, go to a designer or architect and solicit their services for a project. So there’s never been anything in between those two extremes — from sort of basic DIY and spending a moderately fair amount of money, to hiring a professional to do a project. The service I’m providing is for the individual that would like to have a design professional give them advice for a limited duration — a session lasts 90 minutes — at their home or place of business. It is specific to their requirements, done by a professional,  and for minimal costs.

We also have a seminar that we’re offering as well. The seminar is similar, except for the fact that its more course driven. It’s a seven-session seminar. The first session is given at our office, [and participants are] given an overview of design fundamentals — things that one should be aware of and look for when doing interior design specific to your home. The seminar is really geared towards the amateur NYC design aficionado, where as the one-on-one has many other services provided.

Each of the next six sessions takes place at the home of each participant. So not only does a person have the advantage of having specific design issues addressed by myself, but they’re also able to see how we solve design problems in real life settings — those being in each of the other six participants’ homes. So its really unique in that way.

That’s really cool that they get to see different types of spaces and really put their newly learned skills to use. Frankly, getting to see everyone’s NYC apartments would be worth it. It’s sort of like being on a Bravo TV show.

Yeah, everybody always has different issues. Some may be planning, some may be furniture, some may be finishes; there could be aspects related to how to get things done with your co-op or the Department of Buildings. There are so many aspects to the process of design — could be lighting related, finding products that are durable, any number of things. So each of the participants would be able to see those aspects being addressed — and solved — in other situations, rather than their own.

When most people think about hiring a designer, they think high-end luxury homes and design budgets that mirror their their annual rent. But it sounds like you’re trying to target a different type of client — someone who wouldn’t normally hire a designer or architect, but still wants that same design element.

Yes and no. Definitely yes, in that we’re trying to reach out to someone who wants to have the services of a professional, but doesn’t want to engage someone in a big project. So it’s just a 90-minute session for $295, which is quite reasonable. [*Editor's Note:  1 HR. W/ BILL is offering LifeStyler readers a 50% discount -- check the bottom of the page for details.] But it’s also for someone who may in fact be willing to hire an architect or a designer, and just wants to have more information on what’s involved in doing that. My intent is not to be the architect or designer for that project, but to be a professional who can gives them objective advice on whatever that may be.

What are some of the advantages of hiring a designer rather than just attempting to do it all yourself?

Well you know, it’s the same thing as hiring an expert in any field. When you hire a designer, you have someone who can see a project comprehensively, as opposed to [piece by piece]. Someone sees a pretty color on the wall, and they want that. Well, that may be a beautiful color on the wall given the context of the given furniture in the room or the way the light comes in. But in an entirely different environment, it’d have an entirely different appearance. Certainly putting together an entire composition from window treatments to furniture to finishes — those are aspects that a good designer spends a lot of time learning how to do, and with some practice, knows all the places to go to find the best items at the best prices.

What do you think about the emergence of all these DIY decorating blogs, like Apartment Therapy and DIY Network? Do you think they do a good job of offering sound decorating advice?

Yeah, I think they do. More than anything, I think it’s a reflection of people’s interest in design. And I think it also speaks to the traditional ways that people would normally go about designing — they aren’t satisfactory or don’t provide enough information, so people are trying to trade sources or information on how it’s done.

And really, it might also be a reflection of the importance of the home to a person’s sense of comfort and security.  Especially since these are more economically challenging times, I think people are recognizing the importance of feeling safe and secure in their homes and are spending more effort and more time trying to create an effort that is supportive of how they live and work. What 1 HR. W/ BILL does, of course, is give those same individuals the opportunity to have a design professional come to their home and see and speak with them. And that’s something that one could only have had previously by hiring a professional for an entire project. 1HWB provides a significant advantage to the consumer.

Does 1HWB travel all over NYC — to all five boroughs?

It’s really Manhattan based. Initially, I’ll probably open that up a bit. But because I’m trying to keep the price very reasonable, travel time and so forth, it can become less feasible. Initially we’ll open it up to Brooklyn and Queens for sure, since it’s easy to get to those boroughs.

What kinds of design tips do you have for New Yorkers who are trying to get the most out of their space and create a workable space without a huge budget?

You want to find pieces that can serve more than one function. That is always a critical key. Certainly, there is plenty of furniture that is meant to fold up and be put away. But being aware of how it can be stored is important — it doesn’t always have to be stored away under a bed or in a closet.

My favorite place [to buy furniture] is the flea market on 6th Avenue and 26th Street. If you find the right vendors, [you can find] critically made design pieces at a fraction of the price you’d find at a retail outlet. Nowadays, you can find pieces online with sites like Craigslist and eBay. Of course, the problem is that you don’t see the piece. With Craigslist, you can at least travel locally. eBay furniture is not so great because you can’t see it and shipping is expensive. But for accessories, eBay is still a great outlet because you can still return them if its something you don’t like  — if you have an agreement with the seller beforehand.

I also do flea marketing and antiquing outside the city — upstate New York is one of the best. Connecticut as well. So another possibility is to go to certain areas that are known for good, inexpensive thrift stores or flea markets and take a day trip outside of the city. [You can really] harvest great finds from a design and cost standpoint.

We’ve actually done a lot of stories on Housing Works. I’m a big fan. Quite a bit of my furniture and wardrobe has come from their stores across the city.

I’ve found some great stuff at Housing Works, as well. Besides Housing Works, a lot of charitable organizations have outlets like that. My office is on 18th St. between 5th and 6th, and just on 17th St. (between 6th and 7th) there are a couple of pretty good outlets — one is run by an opera company. As for Housing Works, some of their prices have escalated a bit over the past few years because they’ve become so popular, but it’s still good.

What about any other NYC stores?  Which ones are your favorites?

Well, you know the thing is, you can go to Room & Board (down in Soho) — it’s not bad. The quality is better. I really stay away from Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, and Bo Concept. Their pieces are kind of generic, and the quality isn’t bad, but it’s something you pretty much see everywhere. Room and Board has a better quality and more unique design. Once you get into Design Within Reach, the prices start to escalate. From a design standpoint, you can find great things, but the prices are much higher. ABC Carpet and Home has a much greater selection, and antiquey-type pieces or pieces that are uniquely created for them that you wouldn’t find anywhere else, and that’s a great place to shop as well — even just for design ideas. There’s another store where I’ve found a couple of good things, it’s called Environment — on 18th Street and Broadway. They used reclaimed wood in their furniture, and the design is quick tempering and has a wonderful warm quality that you only find if you have the pieces made in reclaimed wood — they’re inherently unique. Other than that, I like to go to the LES and browse around because there are all kinds of secondhand furniture shops.

When it comes to updating a space, what is a good budget, for say, a bedroom?

You know, one thing I like to do is work with furniture that people already have. So something that may seem very tired or not interesting, or you’ve never really looked at before; if you put it into new context — meaning get the right fabric in the room, or bedding or window treatments or change the color of the walls or put a wall covering — then that piece could look fabulous. So I always look for pieces that may have some intrinsic qualities that could be used. It’s not necessarily a question of throwing the baby out with the bath water and starting from scratch. There’s often things that can be reused successfully, and I like to start there.

It’s hard to throw a number at that. It depends on where a person wants to go with it. But if you want a hard number, I think you can do something for as little as $1,500 and up, depending on what the circumstance is. I realize that my customer really wants to do things well. They’re really interested in design and don’t want to spend a ton of money, so my whole focus is geared that way.

Interested in getting Bill Green to check out your home or work space? Call and book an appointment, and mention “LifeStyler” to get 50% off the price of a one-on-one session (that means 90 minutes with Bill for only $147.50) and 20% off the group seminars.  The deal only lasts for two weeks, so book it today through March 18.

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